While nothing compares to learning on a real MIDI piano keyboard, for those wishing to try a few lessons before deciding to purchase a MIDI keyboard, this Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard is a great FREE temporary solution for both Windows and Mac users.

You can use the FREE Musiah Virtual Piano (which enables you to play piano notes on your computer keyboard) to complete all of the first two levels of the Musiah piano course — that’s 34 songs, before you ever have to buy a MIDI keyboard. But of course, your experience will not be not be as good as if you can get hold of a real MIDI keyboard to play on.

So only use this approach as a temporary solution — and please read all the information on this page.

Easy Setup (Windows users)

1. In Windows, click Start and and in the search box type VMPK (which stands for Virtual Midi Piano Keyboard). To make the VMPK easier to find, you may find it helpful to right-click VMPK app in the start-up menu, then select Send to>Desktop. This creates a shortcut to the VMPK that will sit on your desktop.

Double click the .dmg file in your downloads folder. A New finder window should appear. Drag the piano icon to the “Applications” icon in the finder sidebar.

3. Download MusiahVirtualPiano.zip. Depending on the browser you are using, you may need to double click it to extract the file within which is called MusiahVirtualPiano.xml. Drag MusiahVirtualPiano.xml to your “Documents” folder.

Easy Setup (Mac Users)

NB: It is important to complete the next few steps in the exact sequence listed below.

1. Launch the VMPK (e.g. from your Launchpad).

2. Click Edit (at the top of the screen) > MIDI Connections. In the Output MIDI Connection field, select the internal MIDI port you created and click OK.

3. Click Edit > Keyboard Map > Open and navigate to the MusiahVirtualPiano.xml file in your Downloads folder. Select it and click OK.

4. Click vmpk (at top left of screen) and place a check in the “Always On Top” checkbox and the “Grab Computer Keyboard” checkbox. Click OK.

How To Use The Virtual Piano Keyboard In Musiah's Piano Lessons (All Users)

Always open the VMPK first, then open the Musiah software.

Windows Users: The first time you use the VMPK with Musiah, go to the Settings Screen and make sure “LoopBe Internal MIDI is displayed in the MIDI Device drop-down field.

To test that the VMPK is working correctly, click Run Configuration. Skip Steps 1 and 2, then on Step 3/6 check that the MIDI Device field is still displaying LoopBe Internal MIDI, and try playing some notes on your keyboard.

Mac Users: The first time you use the VMPK with Musiah, go to the Settings Screen and make sure “Any Keyboard” or the name of your internal MIDI port is displayed in the MIDI Device drop-down field.

To test that the VMPK is working correctly, click Run Configuration. Skip Steps 1 and 2, then on Step 3/6 check that the MIDI Device field is still displaying “Any Keyboard” (or the name of your internal MIDI port), and try playing some notes on your keyboard.

All Users: If you don’t hear any sound…

Firstly, please be aware that the Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard is not intended to be used on its own, i.e. outside the Musiah Piano Lessons Software. If you try to use the VMPK on its own, you will not hear any sound.

Within the Musiah Piano Lessons Software, you simply need to click the VMPK app so that it has the ‘focus’, then try playing some notes on your computer keyboard and it will work.

This takes a little getting used to as the VMPK will only work if it has the focus.

So any time the sound stops or it seems like it is not working, this is usually because you have clicked somewhere else on your screen other than the VMPK (which causes it to lose focus). Just click on the VMPK to give it the focus and it will work just fine.

Click Return To Settings and then click Save.

Windows Users: If you would prefer not to see the Windows Taskbar when using the VMPK, right-click on the Windows taskbar, click Properties, place a tick in the check box next to “Auto-hide the taskbar”. Click Apply, then OK.

All Users Note: Do NOT minimize the VMPK because you won’t be able to click on it. Instead, if it’s in your way, just drag it towards the bottom-left corner of your screen so most of the VMPK app is off-screen, but you can still see the top of the app to click on it when you need to give it the focus.

The Note Range Covered By The Musiah Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard

How to answer questions or play notes outside this note range

In Lesson 01 there is a question: “Play the C above middle C”. To do this, either click with your mouse on the appropriate key on the VMPK (on the screen) OR press the “A” key on your computer keyboard.

Also in Lesson 01 there is a question: “Play all 5 C’s on your keyboard”. To do this, either click with your mouse on the appropriate keys (in order) on the VMPK OR press the following keys (in order) on your computer keyboard: 1 Q I A Z.

In Lesson 30, you will need to play the C above middle key. In this instance, I recommend using the “A” key on your computer keyboard.

What if I'm not a Musiah piano student?

You can still use the VMPK as long as you use it in conjunction with a MIDI software program of some sort.

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Musiah is the best interactive software for learning piano I have come across. You have an actual teacher who guides you through the lessons step by step. If you make a mistake he not only points out what and how, but fixes the problems you're having by working through exercises tailored to the issues you are specifically having. A very intelligent program, I love it. I also like the fact that you can't 'cheat' and just jump ahead, it makes sure you learn each item before introducing the next concept. I cannot recommend this highly enough, it blows piano marvel and playground sessions out of the water, it really is like having a piano teacher that interacts with you.

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